Guided ablation with end-fire fiber

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for treating a body tissue in situ (e.g., an atrial tissue of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation) include a lesion formation tool is positioned against the heart surface. The apparatus includes a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface. The guide member also has interior surfaces and a longitudinal axis. A guide carriage is sized to be received with the guide member and moveable therein along the longitudinal axis. An optical fiber is positioned within the guide carriage with the carriage retaining the fiber. The carriage receives the fiber with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and bends the fiber to a distal tip with an axis of said fiber at said distal tip at least 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis and aligned for discharge of laser energy through the tissue opposing surface.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/102,091 filed Apr. 8, 2005 titled “Apparatus And Method For Guided Ablation Treatment” (published Aug. 18, 2005 as U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2005/0182392 A1 and incorporated herein by reference). The '091 patent application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/975,674 filed Oct. 28, 2004 titled “Apparatus and Method for Laser Treatment” (published May 5, 2005 as U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2005/0096643 A1 and incorporated herein by reference). The '674 application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/516,242 with an assigned filing date of Oct. 31, 2003.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to surgical instruments for laser cardiac ablation procedures. More particularly, the invention relates to an ablation apparatus with a guide member to guide the ablation apparatus in a desired pattern.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A. Atrial Fibrillation

It is known that at least some forms of cardiac arrhythmia are caused by electrical impulses traveling through the cardiac muscle tissue by abnormal routes. In a normal, non-arrhythmic heart, electrical nerve impulses travel in an orderly and well-defined fashion through the sinoatrial node and then through the atrioventricular node in order to create an orderly flow of electrical impulses that lead to contraction in the heart.

In cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac impulses travel along undesirable pathways through the cardiac tissue leading to a rapid heart beat (tachycardia), slow heart beat (bradycardia) or a disorderly heart beat (fibrillation). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a chaotic heart rhythm of the atrial chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation prevents the heart from pumping blood efficiently causing reduced physical activity, stroke, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and death.

B. Maze Procedure—Generally

One technique for treating atrial fibrillation is to surgically create lines in the heart muscle tissue (myocardium) whereby electrical conduction of nerve impulses is blocked or rerouted. This technique for creating lines of electrical blockage is referred to as the Maze procedure.

Initial approaches to performing the Maze procedure involved invasive surgery in which a series of linear incisions are made in the cardiac tissue and then sutured together. The lines of scar tissue that form in the incisions do not conduct electrical impulses and are intended to prevent disorderly contraction of the atrial tissue.

In a typical Maze procedure, several non-conductive lines are required. Each of the non-conductive lines is typically several centimeters in length. Once these lines scar and heal, they disrupt electrical pathways that may cause atrial fibrillation. Examples of the Maze procedure and other surgical techniques for treating atrial fibrillation are described in Chiappini, et al., “Cox/Maze III Operation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation for the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: A Comparison Study”, Ann. Thorac. Surg., No. 77, pp. 87-92 (2004) and Cox, “Atrial fibrillation II: Rationale for surgical treatment”, J. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surg., Vol. 126, No. 6, pp. 1693-1699 (2003).

C. Less Invasive Maze Procedure Technologies

Less invasive ablation techniques have also been utilized to perform the Maze procedure. In such techniques, the surgeon typically drags an a radiofrequency (RF) electrode in a linear fashion along the endocardial (internal) or epicardial (external) surface of the heart to produce a series of lesions using heat to desiccated and ultimately kill cardiac cells. The scaring created by the lesions is ideally contiguous and non-conductive of electrical impulses. For endocardial use, standard ablation catheters or catheters with extended distal electrodes are employed. Epicardially, specially designed handheld probes with a distal electrode for the application of ablating energy are often used.

For the greatest likelihood of success in a Maze procedure, it is particularly important that the lesions created be transmural. A transmural lesion extends through the full wall thickness of the cardiac muscle at the location of the lesion. One factor that limits transmurality of lesions from the epicardium is the cooling effect of blood in and around the heart particularly during ‘off-pump’ procedures during which the heart is beating. This is particularly difficult when radio frequency (RF) energy is employed because it relies exclusively on thermal diffusion to create transmural lesions i.e, flow of heat from higher to lower temperature. The cooling effect of blood on the endocardial surface within the atrium limits attainment of the temperature required to form thermal lesions.

The maximum temperature, at electrode/tissue interface, is also limited to something less than the boiling point of water. Higher temperatures cause boiling of interstitial water creating explosions and subsequent tissue perforations. Perforations of the atrial wall leads to a weakening of the heart structure as well as significant bleeding during surgery that must be controlled.

Additionally, high electrode/tissue temperatures can create burns and adhesion between the probe and the heart tissue. Such adhesions can insulate the probe from the heart tissue blocking the efficient application of energy. These procedures are also a problem for the surgeon and staff who often must stop to clean the tip of the probe.

The efficacy of creating transmural lesions with RF can be enhanced by using a second electrode at the endocardial surface. The endocardial electrode provides a more direct electrical path through cardiac tissue which ‘focuses’ the energy more directly at the target site and secondarily protects the endocardial surface from direct cooling by blood flow in the left atrium. This approach requires access into the left atrium which adds complexity and increases risk to the patient.

The same analysis can also be applied to cryogenic methods which freeze interstitial water causing cellular death. However in this application, the blood warms the tissue at the endocardial surface which again limits the attainment of temperatures required to cause cellular death and create transmural lesions.

A discussion of techniques and technologies for treating atrial fibrillation is set forth in Viola, et al., “The Technology in Use for the Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation”, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 198-205 (2002). Viola et al. describe numerous ablation technologies for treating atrial fibrillation with the Maze procedure. These include cryosurgery, microwave energy, radiofrequency energy, and laser ablation.

D. Laser Ablation and the Maze Procedure

The use of lasers in treating atrial fibrillation is desirable because laser energy is first and foremost light which is subsequently converted to heat. Thus, the principles for transmission of light can be used to ‘diffuse’ laser energy in cardiac tissue. At selected wavelengths, light diffusion can be significantly faster and penetrate more deeply than thermal diffusion. To achieve this effect, it is important to understand the spectral characteristics of atrial tissue and select a laser wavelength with high transmissivity, i.e., low absorption. Wavelengths in the near infrared region, 700-1200 nanometers are suitable for achieving such results. Ideally the wavelength would be 790 to 830 or 1020 to 1140 nanometers. As a result, laser ablation is fast and results in narrow lesions. Viola, et al., “The Technology in Use for the Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation”, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 201, 204 (2002). However, in the prior art, laser ablation for treating atrial fibrillation has been troublesome.

Viola et al. discuss problems associated with the use of laser energy to treat atrial fibrillation. These concerns are directed to safety and reliability and note that lasers are prone to overheating because of the absence of a self-limiting mechanism. The authors note that over-heating with lasers can lead to crater formation and eventually to perforation, especially when using pin-tip devices. Viola, et al., supra, at p. 203. The authors note that the high power of laser ablation (described as 30 to 80 Watts) results in the laser technique not being widely clinically applied. Id., at p. 201. The mechanical effects resulting from direct heating of the myocardial tissue with laser energy results in cellular explosions caused by shock waves. Viola, et al., supra, at p. 201.

The possibility for perforation of the myocardium with laser energy raises a particular concern for treating atrial fibrillation. The myocardial wall of the atria is quite thin (e.g., about 2 mm in thickness in some locations). A coring of the myocardium by a laser could result in a full wall thickness perforation and resulting leakage of blood.

Viola et al. note the development of a long probe laser that allows diffusion of the laser thermal energy over the long probe tip in a unidirectional fashion. Id., at p. 201. While not mentioning the source of this long probe tip, it is believed by the present inventors to be referring to the atrial fibrillation laser of CardioFocus, Inc., Norton, Mass. (USA) as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/6333A1 in the name of Arnold, et al. (published Jan. 8, 2004) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,285 issued to Sinosky. This technology as practiced differs in two ways to that of the present invention. First, and most importantly, it defocuses the coherent laser beam by using reflective particles to scatter the light longitudinally and radially before it enters the tissue. This reduces the longitudinal movement required to produce linear lesions but, by decreasing the coherency of the laser beam before entering cardiac tissue, and negates many of the advantages of light to more deeply penetrate cardiac tissue. Secondly, this technology uses laser light in the 910 to 980 nanometer wavelengths which has a significant water absorption peak compared to 810 and 1064. The higher absorption reduces the penetration of the laser light through cardiac tissue. Reducing energy penetration depths increases the risk (particularly on a beating heart) of creating a lesion that is less than transmural.

E. Conductivity Verification

A further difficulty with creating linear nonconductive lesions is the inability to verify that a truly nonconductive lesion has been produced. If a transmural lesion is not properly formed in accordance with the Maze procedure, the treatment for atrial fibrillation may not be successful. This could require a second surgical procedure. It would be helpful if the surgeon could promptly discern whether a particular linear lesion is truly non-conducting at the time of the original procedure to permit correction at that time. This would enable prompt re-treatment if necessary.

F. Placing and Guiding an Atrial Ablation Tool

The afore-mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/975,674 describes formation of a lesion pattern by a surgeon moving the tip of a wand over the heart surface. Use of a tool to guide or control an ablation tool has been suggested. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,285 (assigned to CardioFocus, Inc.) shows a diffused light fiber tip in a malleable housing. The housing is bent to form a desired shape and placed against the heart. The diffused light fiber tip is moved through the housing in a series of steps to form a lesion. The lesion is formed by stopping the fiber at a location, energizing the motionless fiber to create a lesion, and moving the fiber to a new location to form a subsequent lesion segment. A similar arrangement for an ablation tool is shown in U.S. patent publication No. 2002/0087151 published Jul. 4, 2002 (assigned to AFx, Inc.).

U.S. patent publication No. 2004/0102771 published May 27, 2004 (assigned to Estech, Inc.) describes a device to guide an ablation tool while maintaining contact between the heart and an ablation device. Other devices for either guiding an ablation element or for maintaining contact for between an ablation element and the heart are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,605 (assigned to Epicor, Inc.). The '605 patent describes using vacuum against an epicardium or an inflatable balloon against a pericardium to maintain ablation devices in a fixed position against the heart. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,514,250 and 6,558,382 (both assigned to Medtronic, Inc.) describe suction to hold ablation elements against a heart.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a body tissue in situ (e.g., atrial tissue of a heart to treat) atrial fibrillation. The apparatus includes a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface. The guide member also has interior surfaces and a longitudinal axis. A guide carriage is sized to be received with the guide member and moveable therein along the longitudinal axis. An optical fiber is positioned within the guide carriage with the carriage retaining the fiber. The carriage receives the fiber with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and bends the fiber to a distal tip with an axis of said fiber at said distal tip at least 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis and aligned for discharge of laser energy through the tissue opposing surface.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a guided laser ablation tool connected to a laser energy source and a coolant fluid source;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a guided laser ablation tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a bottom plan view of a guided laser ablation tool according to the present invention with fiber carriage shown and reciprocation zones identified;

FIG. 3 is a bottom, front and side perspective view of a segment of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is front elevation view of the segment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a fiber carriage for use in the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the carriage of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the carriage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top, side and front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tool of FIG. 2 showing a steering system;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the tool of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top, side and front perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the tool of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top, side and front perspective view of a still further alternative embodiment of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the tool of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a bottom, side and front perspective view of a still further alternative embodiment of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of the tool of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a bottom, side and front perspective view of a yet further alternative embodiment of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of the tool of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front, left side, top perspective view of an alternative guiding system;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing an alternative guiding system;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing a further alternative guiding system;

FIG. 21 is a side sectional view of a multiple fiber ablation tool;

FIG. 22 is a side sectional view of an ablation tool for forming an ablation at a coronary vessel;

FIG. 23 is a view of a guide member showing an optional balloon to urge the guide member against a heart surface;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a guide member surrounding pulmonary veins;

FIG. 24A is a schematic representation of divergence of a laser beam from an end of a fiber;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention including a guide member and a separate carriage (with side panel removed) for advancing a fiber through the guide member;

FIG. 26 is a front, top and right side perspective view of the carriage of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the carriage of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a side elevation view of the carriage of FIG. 26 with a side panel removed;

FIG. 29 is a front elevation view of the carriage of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29A is a view taken along line 29A-29A of FIG. 29;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a guide member and carriage according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the guide member and carriage of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a side elevation view of a guide member and carriage of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a front view showing a carriage received within a guide member of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33A is a view taken along line 33A-33A of FIG. 33;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a guide member and fiber according to the present invention;

FIG. 35 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a view taken along line 36-36 of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a yet further embodiment of a guide member and fiber according to the present invention;

FIG. 38 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 37; and

FIG. 39 is a view taken along line 39-39 of FIG. 38.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the several drawing figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be provided. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is described as a lesion formation tool for applying laser energy to the epicardial surface of the heart to create a transmural ablation line along the heart. As used in this application, the term “ablation” is used in the context of creating necrosed tissue in the myocardium while avoiding tissue perforation or removal. In the following description, a guide member is described for guiding a lesion formation tool in a MAZE pattern. It will be appreciated the teachings of the present application could be applied to other types of ablation tools (e.g., RF ablation, ultrasound or other). Also, this application may refer to a lesion as “linear”. The use of “liner” is not meant to be limited to a straight line but is intended to include a curved or other lesion pattern which is elongated and narrow in width.

Unless otherwise described in reference to a preferred embodiment, all components of the invention can be formed of any suitable material subject to ability of such material to withstand the rigors of sterilization and meet all biocompatibility and other requirements of applicable medical device regulations.

A. Teachings of Parent application Ser. No. 11/102,091

The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/975,674 describes, in detail, a surgical wand for applying laser energy to either the epicardial or endocardial surface of the heart. For treating atrial fibrillation through the MAZE procedure, the wand preferably emits laser energy as coherent light in a wavelength selected to have a very low absorption and very high scatter in myocardial tissue.

Any wavelength suitable to create necrosed tissue in the myocardium without tissue removal could be used. In a preferred embodiment, the wavelength is a near-infrared wavelength selected to have a very low absorption and very high scatter in myocardial tissue. Biological tissue (such as the myocardium) is largely water. Wavelengths in the ranges of between about 470 to about 900 nanometers and between about 1050 to about 1150 nanometers are known to penetrate water with low absorption (e.g., less than about 30% absorption). Lasers in Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery: Fundamentals and Techniques, George S. Abela, M. D., Editor, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 101 Philip Drive, Assinippi Park, Norwell, Mass. 02061 USA, p. 28 (1990). More preferably, the wavelength is selected from the ranges of 790 to 850 nanometers (which range corresponds to commercially available medical diode lasers) and 1050 to 1090 nanometers (which range corresponds to Nd:YAG lasers commonly used in other medical procedures). A laser energy source with a wavelength selected from these ranges will penetrate the full thickness of the myocardium and result in a transmural lesion (i.e., a full-thickness necrosis of myocardial tissue in the atrium). Further such a wavelength minimizes carbonization of the tissue and perforation of the myocardial tissue. Such laser emissions are substantially coherent.

A laser energy source with a wavelength selected from the above ranges will penetrate the full thickness of the myocardium and result in a transmural lesion (i.e., a full-thickness necrosis of myocardial tissue in the atrium). Further, such a wavelength minimizes carbonization of the tissue and perforation of the myocardial tissue. Such laser emissions are substantially coherent.

In the aforesaid '674 application, the wand is a hand-held device with a distal tip placed against either the epicardial or endocardial surface of the heart. The wand is manipulated so that the distal tip moves along the surface of the heart to create a MAZE lesion of a desired pattern. The present invention is directed towards method and apparatus for forming lesions on the heart surface. The invention includes placement of a track on the heart to act as a guide to guide a lesion formation tool in a desired pattern.

B. Teachings of Parent application Ser. No. 10/975,674

a. Guide Member

With initial reference to FIG. 1, a system is shown for creating at least a portion of a maze pattern on a surface of the heart. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of various components to be used in the MAZE procedure.

In FIG. 1, the heart H is shown schematically and divided into left and right atria LA, RA and left and right ventricles LV, RV. A guide member 10 as will be more fully described is shown laying on the epicardial surface of the heart H.

In FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is shown in a curved configuration for creating a curved lesion pattern on the heart H. It will be appreciated that the curvature pattern shown in FIG. 1 and the size of the apparatus relative to the heart H are greatly exaggerated for ease of illustration.

In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvatures and the shape of the curvature will be such for placement of the apparatus 10 on a heart H in the proximity of pulmonary veins and other anatomical structures on or near the atria of the heart to create MAZE patterns or only portions of such patterns.

The schematic in FIG. 1 shows supporting apparatus including a vacuum source 12 connected to apparatus 10 by a conduit 12 a to create a vacuum in desired chambers of the apparatus 10 as will be described. A power source 14 is connected to an optical fiber 32 for creating desired energy pulses within the laser in the apparatus 10. The fiber 32 feeds into a conduit 30 which is passed into a guide member 20 which is placed on the heart H in a desired pattern. A detailed description of the fiber 30, conduit 32 and guide member 20 will be provided. A reciprocator 17 is provided connected to the conduit 32 for moving the conduit 32 (and contained fiber 32) back and forth in a direction aligned with the fiber axis as will be described.

A pump 16 is shown to connect to a source of cooling fluid (such as saline) via a conduit 16 a to the reciprocator 17 for pumping a cooling fluid to the apparatus 10 as will be more fully described. While saline is described as a preferred fluid, it will be appreciated other fluids could be used. For example, a gaseous fluid (such as CO₂) could be used instead of a liquid fluid. Such a gas dissipates in the thoracic cavity eliminating the need for suction of a liquid flushing fluid.

An optional electrophysiology signal generator and monitor 15 may be connected via an electrical conductor 15 a to electrodes on the apparatus 10 as will be described for the purpose of assessing transmurality of a lesion formed by the apparatus 10. Such a signal generator and monitor are described in the '674 application.

In the description of FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that vacuum sources 12, pumps 16, laser power sources 14, signal generators and monitors 15 and oscillators 17 and connective couplings, cables and tubing are commercially available and form no part of this invention per se. While each of the vacuum source 12, pump 16, laser power source 14 and reciprocator 17 have control knobs and the like, it is convenient to have a separate control module 13 which, through electrical connections 14 a, 16 b, 17 a, controls each of the vacuum source 12, pump 16, laser power source 14 and reciprocator 17. Further, a foot pedal 18 is connected to control module 13 by a conductor 18 a. If desired, a physician can use the pedal 18 to control a desired operation parameter hands-free.

FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective view, a length of a segment of the guide apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes a guide member 20 of an elongated flexible body and having a generally flat bottom surface 22.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the guide member 20. The guide member 20 may have spaced markings along its length to assist in positioning the guide member. A guide channel 24 is formed as a groove centrally positioned within the bottom wall 22 and extending along the longitudinal length of the guide member 20 parallel to a longitudinal axis X-X (FIG. 3). A guide carriage 26 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5-7) is slidably received within the guide channel 24.

FIG. 2 illustrates a pull cord 19 a connected to a distal end 19 of the guide member 20 by a strain relief 19 b. While it is presently preferred the guide member will be shaped and placed in a desired patter on the heart H with the end 19 on the heart H, it may be desirable to have a very long guide member such that end 19 is pulled through the desired path and tied-off onto an intermediate section or proximal end of the guide member with only an intermediate portion of the guide member in place on the heart in a desired pattern. The cord 19 a permits grasping the end 19 and puling it to a desired position as well as securing the end 19 to another structure.

FIG. 2A shows the track of FIG. 2 in a straight configuration with guide carriage 26 in guide channel 20 along with six zones, Z₁ thru Z₆ each of length L_(z). Length L_(z) corresponds to the distance the guide carriage travels during reciprocation at a given position of the guide carriage in the reciprocator. Zones Z₁ thru Z₆ correspond to segments along the guide channel over which the guide carriage can travel with changes in the position of the guide carriage in the reciprocator.

In the embodiment shown, the guide carriage 26 (FIGS. 5-7) is oval in cross section and the guide channel 24 is also oval in cross section. As a result, the guide carriage 26 may axially slide within the guide channel 24 but is prevented from moving transverse to its sliding axis X-X as well as being prevented from rotating about the axis X-X. The carriage 26 includes a bottom opening or window 28. The window 28 may be an open area (as shown) to pass both emitted light and a flushing fluid or may be a closed window of material selected to pass the wavelength of the emitted light.

A flexible fluid conduit 30 is connected to a proximal end of the carriage 26. The conduit 30 moves with the carriage 26 within the channel 24. Pushing the conduit 30 moves the carriage 26 distally. Retraction of the conduit 30 moves the carriage 26 proximally.

An optical fiber 32 passes through the conduit 30. Spacers (not shown) hold the fiber 32 coaxially within the conduit 30 with opposing surfaces of the fiber 32 and conduit 30 defining an annular lumen 34 into which cooling fluid from pump 16 may be passed. The fluid both cools components as well as flushing debris which might otherwise accumulate between the fiber and the epicardial surface.

The fiber 32 is carried in the carriage 26 with a distal tip 33 of the fiber positioned to discharge light through the window 28. Cooling fluid from lumen 34 can also pass through the window 28. To enhance the atraumatic nature of the carriage 26, the carriage 26 is formed of a soft material having a low coefficient of friction or lubricious-like nature against the heart tissue. Also, it is desirable that the material of the tip 24 be as transparent as possible to the therapeutic wavelength. For the preferred wavelengths described above, a preferred material is Delrin® acetal of DuPont Co., New Jersey (USA). While such material is generally transparent to the preferred laser energy wavelengths, the material may absorb some of the energy. Therefore, the fluid flowing through lumen 34 and window 28 acts to cool the carriage 26 and fiber tip 33.

The light from the fiber 32 passes through the window 28 in a light path generally perpendicular to the axis X-X and the plane of the guide member bottom surface 22. As schematically shown in FIG. 7, the end of the fiber 32 is cleaved, polished and coated for the fiber 32 to a so-called “side fire” laser such that the fiber 32 is not bent. While it is preferred the light from the tip impinge upon the heart tissue at a 90 degree angle, it will be appreciated the angle can be varied and still provide therapeutic benefit. Side-fire fibers are well known. A representative example of such is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,499 to Brekke issued Jul. 16, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference). The carriage 26 maintains a spacing D between the fiber 32 and the heart surface.

In the embodiment shown, the carriage 26 contains optional sensing electrodes 36 for purposes that will be described. The electrodes 36 may be connected via leads (not shown) to the optional electrophysiology signal generator and monitoring equipment 15.

Best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, vacuum plenums 42, 42 a are formed throughout the length of the guide member 20 on opposite sides of the guide channel 24. A plurality of vacuum ports 46, 46 a is formed through the bottom surface 22 into airflow communication with the plenums 42, 42 a.

As will be described, the vacuum plenums 42, 42 a and vacuum ports 46, 46 a urge the bottom surface 22 against the heart surface and stabilize the guide member 20 during the ablation procedure. While the ports 46, 46 a can be applied to a vacuum source at the same time (i.e., all ports simultaneously have a vacuum or none have a vacuum), it may be desirable to control the vacuum so that only some of the ports 46, 46 a are under vacuum at any one time. Such control is provided by liners 44, 44 a.

The hollow tubular liners 44, 44 a are positioned within each of the plenums 42, 42 a. The liners 44, 44 a terminate at distal ends 47, 47 a. Each of the liners 44, 44 a is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the plenums 42, 42 a. A bottom plate 45, 45 a (FIG. 4) of the liners 44, 44 a covers the openings 46, 46 a.

In a preferred embodiment, the liners 44, 44 a are retractable by pulling the liners 44, 44 a proximally out of a proximal end of the member 20. As a liner 44, 44 a is pulled out of the proximal end of the guide member 20, the liner ends 47, 47 a move distally past the holes 46, 46 a such that the openings 46, 46 a are exposed to the interior of the plenums 42, 42 a. The distal openings 46, 46 a are exposed to the plenums before more proximal openings 46, 46 a.

FIG. 4 illustrates liner 44 positioned with plate 45 covering hole 46 and blocking its communication with plenum 42. Liner 44 a is more fully retracted such that end 47 a is retracted proximally past hole 46 a thereby exposing hole 46 a to the plenum 42 a. With a vacuum applied to both plenums 42, 42 a, only hole 46 a would be applying a suction (arrow A in FIG. 4) to the epicardial surface of the heart.

As will be described, the structure permits placement of a distal end 19 of the guide member 20 followed by later securing more distal segments of the guide member to the heart. It will be appreciated this structure and method of operation can be reversed such that liners 44, 44 a are pulled from a distal end of the guide member 20 to expose proximal openings 46, 46 a to the plenums 42, 42 a before expose more distal openings 46, 46 a.

While a vacuum is preferred for releasably securing the guide member 20 to the heart surface, other attachments options are possible. For example, FIG. 16 shows an alternative mechanism for attaching the guide member 20 to an epicardial surface of the heart. Instead of a vacuum attachment as described above, FIG. 20 illustrates use of so-called “bulldog” clamps 60 positioned along the side edge of the guide member 20. The bulldog clamps may be separately actuated during surgery to attach to the surface of the heart and hold the guide member in fixed position on the heart. Such clamps are well known. An example of such is a Vascu-Statt® Single-Use Bulldog Clamp sold by Scanlan International, One Scanlan Plaza, Saint Paul, Minn. USA for use in vascular occlusion and as described at web page http://www.scanlaninternational.com/singleuse/vascustatt.asp. The clamps have jaws 61 which engage tissue. The jaws 61 are actuated by a lever 62.

FIG. 23 illustrates a still further embodiment for urging the lower surface 22 of the guide member 20 against a heart surface. An upper surface of the guide member is provided with an inflatable balloon 300 extending at least partially along its length. In FIG. 23, the balloon is shown deflated in solid lines and inflated in phantom lines. The guide member 20 is placed between the heart surface and the pericardium when the balloon 300 is deflated. When the guide member 20 is in the desired position, the balloon 300 is inflated. The inflated balloon 300 urges against the pericardium to urge the bottom surface 22 against the heart surface.

b. Placement of Guide Member and Formation of MAZE Lesions

During placement of the guide apparatus 10 on the heart H, the liners 44, 44 a can be fully inserted within the plenums 42, 42 a and a vacuum applied to the interior of the plenums 42, 42 a. The vacuum does not communicate with the holes 46, 46 a since the liners 44, 44 a are covering the holes 46, 46 a.

With the highly flexible member 20, the distal end 19 (FIG. 2) can be placed in any suitable manner in a desired location on the heart surface. Later in this application, various techniques will be described for shaping or steering the guide member 20 to assist a physician in this placement.

With the distal end 19 so positioned, it is releasably secured to the heart surface by retracting the liners 44 to expose the most distal holes 46, 46 a with the vacuum urging the surface 22 against the heart. With the distal end secured, intermediate portions of the guide member 20 may be placed in a desired location on the surface of the heart. When the surgeon is satisfied with the positioning, the liners 44 are further retracted causing holes 46, 46 a of the intermediate portions to be exposed to the vacuum and thereby securing the device 20 to the heart at those locations. This process can be sequentially repeated until the entire guide member 20 is placed in its desired positioning and pattern on the heart. The desired pattern of the guide member 20 corresponds with a position of a portion of a desired MAZE pattern lesion to be formed by the ablation member which, in the preferred embodiment, is the tip 33 of the laser fiber 32.

So positioned, the carriage 26 may be moved within the guide channel 24 and the laser fiber 32 may be energized by activating power source 14 to form a transmural lesion in the heart wall. The conduit 30 is pushed or pulled as desired to move the carriage 26 distally or proximally, respectively, thereby moving the fiber tip 33 in a desired pattern over the epicardial surface of the heart. The physician moves the carriage along the exterior surface of the heart in order to create lines of ablated (i.e., non-electrically conducting) tissue by raising the temperature of the cardiac tissue to that required to achieve cellular death (typically about 55° C.). It is presently estimated that, with an operating laser power of about 25 watts, a surgeon can create an ablation line by gliding the moving the carriage 26 over the heart surface at a rate of between about 1 to 5 cm of linear travel per minute. By way of non-limiting example, with a diode laser, power can range from about 5 to about 50 Watts.

While a lesion can be formed by pulling the fiber 30 distally in one pass, it is presently preferred to form the lesion in zones. For example, a desired lesion pattern can be divided into multiple zones. Within a zone, the energized fiber tip 33 is moved back and forth with carriage 26 in the guide member 20 multiple times to apply a desired dosage of energy to tissue in the zone (FIG. 2A). The carriage 26 and fiber tip 33 are then moved to the next zone and the procedure is repeated.

With the structure thus described, it has been shown how the guide member 20 guides the laser tip 33 in the desired MAZE pattern. Further, throughout this patter, the carriage 26 holds the laser tip 33 in a constant spacing (D in FIG. 7) from the epicardial surface of the heart. The guide member 20 maintains a desired spacing between the end of the ablation tool (i.e., the fiber tip 33 in a preferred embodiment) and the surface of the heart throughout the length of the guide member 20 and avoids direct contact of the ablation member and the heart.

It is desirable to have as close a spacing D (FIG. 7) of the fiber discharge tip 33 to the bottom wall 22 of the guide member 20 as possible to maximize laser energy penetration of myocardial tissue. The power density impinging on cardiac tissue decreases rapidly with increasing spacing D. However, a small spacing D (about 0.25 mm preferred) from the surface of the heart is desirable to prevent coagulation of biological products onto the face of the optical fiber. Build-up of tissue is undesirable. It can cause carbonization and spalling of the optical fiber face which reduces laser energy output from the optical fiber. If sufficient biological material is present in the vicinity of the optical fiber face, overheating and subsequent melting of components can occur. Due to the unobstructed path from the fiber tip 33 to the heart surface, the light is a non-diffused or unmodified beam directed at the heart surface either perpendicularly of at an angle as described above.

The flow of coolant fluid from the window 28 cools the material of the carriage 26, washes biological material (e.g., blood, tissue debris or the like) from the light path between optical fiber tip 33 and the heart surface, and acts as a lubricant to further facilitate atraumatic gliding movement of the carriage 26 over the surface of the heart.

The washing action of the fluid maximizes the laser energy impinging on the surface of the heart. Additionally, this fluid provides a means to cool the tissue in the region of the carriage 26 to help ensure that tissue carbonization and subsequent vaporization of cardiac tissue do not occur. This substantially reduces the likelihood of perforation of the heart wall. Also, the fluid forms a protective layer at the discharge tip 33 of optical fiber 32 which reduces the likelihood biological residue will impinge on and/or adhere to the discharge tip 33 which can otherwise cause spalling of the fiber tip 33 and reduce optical transmission of laser energy.

Since the fluid flows into the body of the patient, the fluid should be medical grade and biocompatible. Also, the fluid should have a low absorption of the laser energy. A preferred fluid is a physiological saline solution which may be supplied at ambient temperature.

The pump 16 (FIG. 1) output is controllable. Its controls are integrated into the control module 13 to permit an operator to set or modify a flow rate of the fluid. For example, an operator can set fluid flow as low as 0.2 milliliters per minute or as high as 20 milliliters per minute or any other desired setting. As will be described, some flow is preferred to cool the tip 33 and wash the end of the fiber 32. Further, as the fluid flows between the carriage 26 and the heart, the fluid acts as a lubricant further facilitating atraumatic gliding motion of the carriage 26 over the heart surface. For treating thin atrial tissue, the flow rate is preferably about 10 milliliters per minute which provides the afore-mentioned benefits but minimizes excessive fluid infusion into the patient.

c. Evaluating Transmurality of Lesion

During the ablation process or thereafter, the electrodes 36 may be energized to test conductivity across the formed lesion to ensure transmurality as taught in the '674 application. The electrodes 36 are selected and adapted to sense an electrical potential in the local area of each.

Upon completion of the ablation procedure described above, the surgeon can move the carriage 26 back through the channel 24. Securing the guide member 20 to the heart as described ensures the electrodes 36 are positioned on opposite sides of the lesion line formed during the ablation procedure.

During this retracing step, electrical stimuli are then transmitted to the electrodes 36 from electrophysiology monitoring equipment or similar instrumentation 15 which are connected to the electrodes 26 by electrical conductors (not shown) formed into the conduit 30 and carriage 26.

The response of the cardiac tissue is observed. Tracing the created lines in this manner allows the surgeon to test to insure that two different electrical potentials exist on either side of the line. Differing electrical potentials indicate that a complete blockage of electrical energy transmission has been obtained. In the event different potentials are not indicated, the procedure of applying laser energy to the surface of the heart may be repeated as necessary until the desired effect of different potentials are obtained. As an alternative to retracing the lesion, the electrodes 36 can be activated to test transmurality as the lesion is formed.

In previously described embodiments (e.g., with reference to FIG. 3), sensing electrodes 36 were placed on the carriage and movable with the carriage. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative embodiment. In these Figures, the vacuum plenums, liners and suction holes are not shown for ease of illustration.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, sensing electrodes 36′ are placed on the bottom wall 22 of guide member 20 extending along the length of the guide member. The electrodes are fixed in place and are not movable with the carriage 26. Instead, after a MAZE pattern is formed, the electrodes 36′ may be energized to test for conductivity across the formed lesion.

d. Endoscopic Visualization

During placement of the guide member 20 it would be desirable to visualize placement. FIGS. 3 and 4, an upper surface 25 of the guide member 20 carries an endoscope 40 to permit visualization of the placement of the guide member 20. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an alternative embodiment with an endoscope 40′ carried on a rail 43′ received within a groove 49′ on the upper surface 25. In this embodiment, the endoscope may be slidably moved along the length of the guide member 20. In FIGS. 12 and 13, the vacuum plenums, liners and suction holes are not shown for ease of illustration.

e. Enhanced Guide Member Flexibility

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment for a guide member 20′ with enhanced flexibility. In FIGS. 10 and 11, all elements in common with the first described embodiment are similarly numbered with the addition of an apostrophe to distinguish embodiments.

The guide member 20′ is shown as formed from as a plurality of connected segmented portions 23′. The vacuum plenums 42′, 42 a′ extend through the interconnected segments 23′. The segmentation provides for enhanced flexibility in lateral shape change of the guide member 20′. The guide member 20′ (as well as guide member 20) is highly flexible and may be formed of any suitable, bio-compatible flexible material such as silicone. FIGS. 10 and 11 show reinforcing splines 23 a′ to maintain shape of the segments 23′.

FIGS. 10 and 11 also show an optional change in the shape of the channel 24′ and carriage 26′. Sides of the channel 24′ have grooves 24 a′ which receive rails 26 a′ of the carriage 26′ in sliding engagement. In this embodiment, sensing electrodes (such as electrodes 36 in FIG. 3) are not shown but could be provided.

f. Steering or Shaping the Guide Member

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate one of several alternative techniques to steer and maintain the positioning of the guide member 20 when forming the desired pattern on the heart. As with the description of FIGS. 12 and 13, vacuum chambers are not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for ease of illustration. FIG. 8 does not show the carriage or fiber for ease of illustration. Also, an optional endoscope is not shown.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, an upper channel 51 (which may contain an endoscope) has a plurality of pull wires 50 contained within lumens 53. Then distal ends of the wires 50 may be anchored to a desired location on the guide member 20. Four wires 50 permit shaping the guide member in four directions (i.e., left, right, up and down).

By applying tension to selected ones of the pull wires 50, the anchored location may be moved and, as a result, the shape of the member 20 may be adjusted. The pull wires 50 permit remote steering of the distal end of the guide member 20. Also, after the position of the guide member distal end is secured on the heart, similar pull wires can be used to adjust the shape of intermediate portions of the guide member 20 as previously described.

FIG. 18 illustrates a further embodiment which would not include steering mechanisms as previously described. Instead, the guide member 20″ (which includes a channel 30″ containing a carriage and fiber as described with previous embodiments) is formed of a rigid proximal portion 20 a″ secured to a handle 21′ and a malleable distal portion 20 b″.

With the embodiment of FIG. 18, a surgeon could simply shape the malleable distal portion 20 b″ into a desired shape and place the semi-rigid shaft and malleable end through an incision formed in the patient (such as through an intercostal incision). The distal portion 20 b″ is then placed on the heart of the patient in the desired location for the formation of a MAZE pattern. FIG. 18 shows a distal portion 20 b″ in a straight configuration as well as a curved configuration to the side.

The handle and semi-rigid portion 20 a″ permits the surgeon to provide torque and lift to device 10″ using natural leverage of the device 10″ on the heart to ensure placement of the malleable distal end 20 b″ urged against the epicardial tissue of the heart. When the surgeon is satisfied as to the positioning, the ablation fiber can be dragged through the distal portion 20 b″ as previously described with the fiber carried within a carriage contained within the guide member. If desired, the guide member 20″ can be provided with a plenum and holes (such as plenums 42, 42 a and holes 46, 46 a as described with reference to FIG. 3). Such plenums and holes would provide a vacuum assist to stabilize the distal portion 20 b″ against a heart surface.

FIG. 19 shows a further alternative embodiment where the distal portion 20 b′″ is not malleable but is a steerable member which can bend to the right or left at the selection of an operator. The distal portion 20 b′″ may be coupled to a steering knob 23″ by steering wires as previously described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The knob 23′″ on the handle 21′″ provides tension to the wires and permits turning of the steerable distal portion 20 b′″ to either the right or left in a radius. FIG. 19 shows a distal portion 20 b″ in a straight configuration as well as a curved configuration to the left and right sides.

FIG. 20 shows a still further embodiment where two steering knobs 21 a″″ and 21 b″″ are provided for steering in two planes. Further, an additional optional feature is shown where the distal tip 20 a″″ of the guide member 20″″ is provided with a blunt dissection tool 25″″. The tool 25″″ could be either in a permanent fully closed state (not shown but would be a wedge for blunt dissection) or be selectively opened and closed jaws as illustrated in FIG. 20. The tool 25″″ is manipulated by a jaw control knob 27″″ on the handle 21″″. Also shown as an optional feature, the distal tip can be provided with an endoscopic camera 29″″ to permit visualization during use. FIG. 20 shows a distal portion 20 b′″ in a straight configuration as well as a curved configuration to the left and right sides and a curved position up or down.

g. Multi-Fiber Embodiment

In a most preferred embodiment, the optical fiber 32 with the fluid conduit 30 is pushed and pulled with the fiber's longitudinal axis generally aligned with the axis X-X of the control guide member. The fiber 32 is side-firing fiber as illustrated in FIG. 7. Light is emitted from the fiber perpendicular to the axis of the fiber 32 at the fiber tip 33. The fiber is not bent or radiused.

FIG. 21 illustrates an alternative to a side-firing fiber 32. In FIG. 21, multiple fibers 32 ₁ can be placed within a common channel 30 ₁ which can be linearly drawn through the guide member 20.

With use of very small fibers 32 ₁ (50-micron fibers), the individual fibers 32 ₁ can be bent such that the fibers 32 ₁ are not side firing. Instead, the fibers 32 ₁ emit light out of a distal tip 33 ₁ in a direction parallel to the fiber axis at the distal tip 33 ₁.

The channel 30 ₁ is microporous plastic transparent to the therapeutic wavelength. Micro pores 35 ₁ opposing the tissue being treated permit the cooling fluid to be discharged from the channel 30 ₁. The individual fibers 32 ₁ are radiused to project light out of the channel 30 ₁ in a generally perpendicular direction to the axis of the channel 30 ₁. The ends 33 ₁ of the fibers 32 ₁ are spaced such that, taking into account the divergence of the emitting light, a complete transmural lesion if formed between adjacent fibers 32 ₁. An appropriate spacing S₁ is about 2 mm. With the example given using 50-micron fibers 32 ₁, the combined discharge length L₁ of the fiber tips 33 ₁ is approximately 2 centimeters.

In this embodiment, the device is held stationary and a 2-centimeter lesion is formed. The channel 30 ₁ is then slid axially within the guide member 20 a distance of 2 centimeters and held stationary for an additional application of laser energy. This process can continue in sequence until the desired pattern is completely formed.

h. Lesion Formation in Proximity of Coronary Vessels

In performing a MAZE procedure, difficulties are commonly encountered in forming a lesion from the epicardial surface and across a coronary vessel such as the coronary sinus or the left circumflex artery. These blood vessels lie on or near the epicardial surface. When forming a lesion through application of energy, concern exists that injury may occur to these blood vessels. This can occur by reason of application of laser energy, radio frequency energy or ultrasound energy.

One way to avoid the problem is to by-pass formation of a lesion from the epicardial surface in the region of the circumflex or coronary sinus. In this region, access is made to the interior chamber of the heart and the lesion is formed from the endocardial surface and the lesion is formed from the endocardial surface toward the epicardial surface. However, it is desirable to avoid complications associated with left atrial access. These complications could include formation of thrombus which can result in stroke or other serious adverse consequences.

FIG. 22 illustrates a specific tool tip 100 for formation of a lesion along the area of the coronary sinus CS and left circumflex artery LCx shown superficial on the epicardial surface E. Fibers 132 are carried in a fluid conduit 130. The conduit 130 has a recessed portion 134 sized to be placed over the coronary sinus CS and left circumflex LCx. The fibers are placed with discharge tips 133 on opposite sides of the recess 134. Fluid discharge holes 135 are positioned to pass a cooling fluid from the conduit 130 to the epicardial surface E

A reflective coating 136 is formed on the recessed portion 136 to form a reflective surface. The reflective coating 136 is selected to reflect the therapeutic wavelength of the laser energy being emitted from fiber tips 133.

Fibers 132 are arranged on opposite sides of the recessed portion 134 with the fiber tips 133 directed to form an angled discharge of light in a pattern illustrated by arrows B. The light paths B converge beneath the coronary sinus CS and left circumflex LCx to create a lesioned tissue T in the epicardium surface E beneath the coronary sinus and left circumflex and originating on opposite sides of the vessels CS, LCx. Accordingly, a lesion is formed through the atrial tissue but without application of laser energy directly to the left circumflex LCx or coronary sinus CS. The surface of the recessed portion 134 may be additionally cooled by applying either cryogenics to the recessed portion 134 or with an electronic cooling member (such as a Peltier cooling element) on the recessed portion 134.

As an alternative to the above, the left circumflex LCx and coronary sinus CS can be dynamically cooled during the laser treatment. Dynamic cooling is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,514,244 and 6,200,308 (both incorporated herein by reference). In applying the concept of dynamic cooling to laser energy ablation of cardiac tissue surrounding and beneath the left circumflex or coronary sinus, a cryogenic energy pulse is alternated and/or applied simultaneously to laser energy application. Since epicardial application of cryogenic fluid or gas would cool the outer most layers of cardiac tissue, this would serve to protect the left circumflex and coronary sinus from temperature elevation above 55 degrees C., as theses structures are typically closer to the epicardial rather than the endocardial surface. This induced temperature gradient would allow direct laser application over the left circumflex coronary artery and coronary sinus, and negate the need to know the exact anatomic location of these structures prior to laser ablation.

i. Pulmonary Vein Isolation

In a MAZE procedure it is known to be desirable to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins by forming a MAZE lesion around the veins. FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of a composite guide member 220 for this purpose. The composite guide member 220 includes a first guide member 220 a pivotally connected to a second guide member 220 b at a pivot point 222. Each contains a carriage and fiber as described with respect to guide member 20 and, preferably, contain vacuum or other apparatus as previously described to urge the bottom surfaces of the guide members 220 a, 220 b against the heart surface.

The first guide member 220 a is pre-shaped to at least partially surround the pulmonary veins PV. The second guide member 220 b completes a perimeter around the pulmonary veins PV. So positioned, the conduit 230 (containing the optical fiber as previously described) is moved through the first guide member 220 a while energizing the fiber to form a MAZE pattern partially surround the veins PV. Similarly, a carriage and fiber are moved through the second guide member 220 b to complete the encirclement of the pulmonary veins PV.

C. Additional Disclosure of Present Application

The aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 10/975,674 describes a wand for directing laser energy at a tissue surface. The fiber is an end-firing laser. The axis of the laser beam is discharge from a fiber tip substantially coaxial with the axis of the fiber at the tip. The light impinges upon a tissue surface substantially perpendicular to the plane of the tissue surface, in a preferred embodiment, or with ranges of the angle described in paragraph 0086 of Publication No. U.S. 2005/0096643A1 published May 5, 2005.

The aforementioned application Ser. No. 11/102,091 describes a guided laser which, in a preferred embodiment, is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as a side-fire laser fiber. The light emerges from the fiber distal tip at an angle (60-90 degrees) to the axis of the fiber at the tip.

A side-fire laser fiber permits a low-profile assembly. A guided fiber assembly can be placed in the pericardial space. Since the laser fiber axis is substantially parallel to the tissue surface, the assembly occupies very little space and can readily fit into the pericardial space. In contrast, a wand with an end-fire fiber requires greater surgical access and dissection of the pericardium.

Unfortunately, side-fire laser fibers are subject to performance limitations. Side-fire lasers are subject to possible performance degradation particularly in use with small fibers (such as 400 micron and 0.37 numerical aperture fibers) coupled to an 810-nanometer diode laser. In such applications, the beam ejected from the side-fire laser fiber is not narrow and a substantial portion of the energy is reflected from the surface of the tissue. It is an object of the present application to combine the benefits of a guided laser application together with a more direct end-fire laser.

The embodiments that follow describe an end-fire laser fiber in a low-profile apparatus for minimizing the thickness of the apparatus thereby enjoying the optical benefits of end-fire fibers and the size benefits of a side-fire fiber. Further, the present invention optimizes a spacing of a fiber tip from target tissue to enjoy good power density while also enjoying the benefits of flushing and cooling as previously described.

An important issue in penetration of laser energy into myocardial tissue is the power density of the incident laser beam. Power density is ratio of total power exiting an optical fiber to the irradiated surface area or the delivered power per unit area. Higher power densities by definition are more focused and result in narrower and deeper lesions.

The power density is highest at the exit plane of the optical fiber and decreases as the beam diverges. A beam generally expands in a conical shape with a divergence angle equal to the inverse sin of the numerical aperture of the optical fiber as shown in FIG. 24A.

As the spacing between the optical fiber and tissue increases, the power density of the incident laser beam decreases by the square of the distance. Table 1 shows such a decrease for different tissue spacing and optical fiber diameters.

Power density can impact laser tissue interaction in two ways. First, there is a critical power density beyond which the interaction no longer obeys the laws of classical physics and becomes non-linear. This effect disperses laser energy more rapidly into myocardial tissue creating deeper lesions. Second, higher power densities compensate more easily for the parasitic losses associated with absorption of laser energy during passage through myocardial tissue and the cooling effect of blood flow at the endocardial surface increasing the probability of creating transmural lesions on a beating heart. For most atrial applications, power densities above 1000 W/cm² are desirable for creating transmural lesions.

Power density is a more important design consideration for diode lasers because of the higher incidence angle of laser energy at the input end of the optical fiber. The incidence angle is increased as light traverses the optical fiber until reaching the critical angle of the optical fiber. As an example, most commercial diode lasers have incidence angles of 20 degrees requiring the use of optical fibers with an NA of 0.37. This yields a divergence angle 22 degrees at the exit plane of the optical fiber resulting in an increased image diameter equal to the distance from the tissue surface (total cone angle is 2× divergence angle). Table 1 shows a 100-fold decrease in power density with only 3/16 inch spacing (4.25 mm) from the tissue.

TABLE 1 Effect of Power Density (W/cm²) (0.37 NA Optical Fiber) Tissue Spacing Tissue Spacing Fiber Dia (microns) (mm) (in) 400 600 0.00 0.000 19,894 8,842 0.25 0.010 8,872 4,986 0.50 0.020 4,999 3,196 0.75 0.030 3,203 2,222 1.00 0.039 2,226 1,634 1.25 0.049 1,636 1,251 1.50 0.059 1,253 989 1.75 0.069 990 802 2.00 0.079 802 663 2.25 0.089 663 557 2.50 0.098 557 475 2.75 0.108 475 409 3.00 0.118 410 357 3.25 0.128 357 313 3.50 0.138 314 278 3.75 0.148 278 248 4.00 0.157 248 222 4.25 0.167 222 201

While direct contact (tissue spacing of 0.00 mm) achieves the greatest power density, it may not be the optimal spacing for ablation of atrial tissue. Higher power densities have a greater potential to carbonize and perforate cardiac tissue especially thinner atrial myocardium. Other variables such as the cooling created by flushing fluids and the divergence angle of the laser light help mitigate the risk of perforations. As will be described, a spacing of about 0.05 inches (about 1.3 mm) achieves a preferred balance of these variables. However, it is believed a spacing between a minimum of 0.25 mm and a maximum of 2.0 mm are acceptable. While greater spacing is possible, the power density drops off significantly and may not be adequate to compensate for the cooling effects on the endocardial surface.

It is possible that effective lesions can be created at a distance greater than 2.0 mm. Myocardial anatomy and positioning of ablation guide along a myocardial surface could result in spacing greater than 2.0 mm from the surface of the tissue, though the flexibility of the guide and follower assembly is such to minimize this distance. Even if 2.0 mm is exceeded, a lesion may still be created at greater than 5 mm spacing, though of less depth. This effect of spacing resulting in decreased penetration and lesion depth may be further minimized by water-coupling of optical fiber face to the tissue surface. Water coupling may be enhanced by increased flow rate of flushing solution or by distribution of flow over a greater surface area.

FIG. 25 illustrates a guided laser, which avoids use of a side-fire laser according the present invention. In FIG. 25, the guide member 420 is a biocompatible plastic material formed with a hollow, square-shaped configuration. The guide member 420 has a bottom wall 422 with a slot 424 extending through the bottom wall throughout the length of the guide member 420.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 25, no apparatus is shown for fixing the guide member 420 against tissue (such as a vacuum attachment as described in forgoing embodiments). However, it will be appreciated that the guide member 420 could be provided with such attachment mechanisms as well as with any of the earlier described visualization equipment of other previously described structure.

Preferably, the guide member 420 includes a feature to permit controlled bending of the guide member. In the embodiment shown, this mechanism is a plurality of slits 423 formed through the guide member along its length. The plane defined by each slit 423 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 420. The slits 423 are formed through all but the bottom wall 422.

The slits 423 permit the guide member 420 to be bent along the surface of the bottom surface 422 as shown in FIG. 25. Preferably, the walls of the guide member 420 has structural rigidity to partially resist and/or control bending in other directions as well as resisting twisting along its longitudinal axis. As an alternative to slits 423, the guide member 420 can be otherwise reinforced (e.g., through material selection or geometry to accomplish such controlled bending. It is preferred the guide member 420 not be stretchable along its longitudinal axis.

A carriage 426 is provided in the form of a block of biocompatible plastic material such as Delrin® acetal as previously described. Other materials (e.g., stainless steel) could suffice). In FIG. 25, a sidewall (shown in FIGS. 26, 27 and 29 as element 428) is removed from the carriage 426 to expose interior components as will be described.

The carriage 426 is sized to be slidably received within the interior of the guide member 420. The guide member 420 retains the carriage throughout such sliding motion with the longitudinal axis of the carriage 426 coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the guide member 420.

An upper surface 427 of the carriage 426 is convex rounded and the bottom surface 425 is concave (as best shown in FIG. 29). The upper surface 427 has angled front and rear surfaces 429. This combination of features permits longitudinally sliding movement of the carriage 426 within the guide member 420 when the guide member is bent as illustrated in FIG. 25. This combination also avoids relative rotation between the guide member 420 and carriage 426 to maintain a desired orientation of a laser beam through the bottom wall slot 424 to a target tissue. In a preferred embodiment such tissue is atrial tissue for treating atrial fibrillation but could be tissue of a ventricle for other tissue for treating any other condition (e.g. ventricular tachycardia).

The bottom 425 of the carriage 426 is flat to abut the bottom wall 422. The width W (FIG. 29) of the bottom surface 425 and the height H of the carriage 426 are substantially equal to the internal width and height, respectively of the guide member 420. Accordingly, movement of the carriage 426 with the guide member 420 is limited to longitudinal sliding movement. The flat ends 425 a (FIG. 28) of the bottom surface 425 of the carriage 426 remains in contact with the bottom wall 422. The carriage 426 is restricted from transverse movement within the guide member 420.

A conduit 430 extends from a proximal end of the carriage 426 and contains an optical fiber 432. The fiber 432 has a smaller diameter than the conduit 430 to permit passing a cooling and flushing fluid through the conduit 430 during operation as described in early embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 28, the optical fiber 432 terminates at a distal tip 433. In FIGS. 26, 27, and 29, the carriage 426 is shown with a side cover 428 secured in place by a screw 431. In FIG. 28, the side cover 428 is removed with the screw 431 in place to illustrate internal components. The interior of the carriage 426 has a cavity 435 and an internal block 437 to which the screw 431 attaches.

Opposing surfaces of the cavity 435 is a passageway for placing and re-directing the fiber 432. The fiber 432 enters the cavity 435 with an entrance axis X-X substantially parallel to the conduit 430 and parallel to the plane P of the bottom surface flats 425 a.

At the discharge tip 433, the fiber 432 projecting through a lower slot 439 of the carriage 426 with a discharge axis Y-Y. The axis Y-Y is at a lesser-included angle A to the plane P. Preferably, the angle A is greater than 45 degrees and, more preferably, greater than 60 degrees.

With this embodiment, the guide member 420 can be wrapped around heart tissue (such as an atrial dome surrounding and connected to the pulmonary veins) to completely surround the pulmonary veins and with the bottom surface 422 snuggly abutting the atrial tissue. The carriage 426 can be moved through the guide member 420 (preferably in a reciprocating manner as previously described) and with laser energy emitted as an end-fire laser from discharge tip 433 towards atrial tissue. While a snug abutment of the bottom surface 422 to the target tissue is preferred, it will be appreciated that a small separation (e.g., a few millimeters resulting from surface irregularities or the like) can be tolerated.

Within the chamber 435, the fiber is free to assume a natural repose abutting the defining surfaces of the cavity 435 and the hub 437 without excessive bending. Also, it will be noted that the spacing between the hub 437 and the chamber walls 435 is greater than the thickness of the fiber so the cooling and flushing fluid is free to pass around the fiber 432 and through the slot 439 to wash debris away from the tip 433.

The tip 433 is recessed within the bottom surface flat 425 a by a distance D (FIGS. 29 and 29A) The tip 433 is centrally positioned in the bottom surface flat 425 a to be aligned with the slot 424 of the guide member 420.

Preferably, the distance D is about 0.10 inch (about 0.25 mm) and is preferably less than a thickness of the bottom surface 422 of the guide member 420. This maintains a spacing between the discharge tip 433 and the atrial tissue. In a preferred embodiment, such spacing is about 0.05 inches (about 1.3 mm) to provide a clearance for flushing fluid to pass between the discharge tip 433 and the atrial tissue. The flushing fluid can be a gas (such as air or carbon dioxide) or a liquid (such as saline).

In addition to cooling and flushing functions, the fluid acts as a continuous laser light transmissive medium between the discharge tip 433 and the atrial tissue. As result, there is no interface of different materials between the discharge tip 433 and the atrial tissue which might otherwise re-direct laser energy.

The radius of curvature of the fiber 432 within the carriage is about 0.25 inch (about 6.4 mm) for a 400-micron and 0.37 numerical aperture fiber coupled to an 810-nanometer diode laser. This radius is selected to be as tight a radius as possible to maintain as low a profile as possible. At 0.25 inch (about 6.4 mm), there is very little loss of laser energy through the fiber. Such a loss progressively increases as the radius becomes tighter.

With the forgoing embodiment, the radius of the fiber 432 is maintained in the curved shape within the carriage 426 at the time of manufacture. Alternatively, the hub 437 could be a two-position hub such that it can be moved to a downward position in a relaxed state relieving the curvature on the fiber and then moved to the position of FIG. 28 to create the curvature. As a result, the fiber would experience less tension during storage and reduce the possibility of creepage or fracture of the fiber over time when it is in storage awaiting use. Such a position is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 29A with the hub 437 slidably moved downwardly and rearward and the radius of curvature of the fiber 432 relaxed. While a sliding motion is shown, the hub 437 can pivot downwardly in the view of FIG. 29A.

FIGS. 30-33 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a guided end-fire laser fiber for treating tissue such as atrial tissue. In FIGS. 30-33, the guide member 520 is triangular in cross section and has a base 522 with a slot 524 extending therethrough along the axial length of the guide member 520.

The guide member 520 has slits 523 formed through all sides other than the base 522 and with the plane of the slits 523 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 520. By reason of the slits 523, the guide member 520 can bend around the bottom surface 522 but is resisted from bending in other directions as well as from being twisted.

A carriage 526 includes a distal guide hub 527 a and a proximal guide hub 527 b. Both of the proximal and distal guide hubs 527 a, 527 b have extending pins 528 a, 528 b extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 520 (FIG. 33). The phantom lines of FIGS. 30-31 illustrate the carriage 526 resides with the interior of the guide member 620.

The pins 528 a, 528 b reside near the base 522 to prevent lateral movement of the carriage 526 relative the guide member 520 as illustrated in FIG. 33. The proximal and distal hubs 527 a, 527 b have a height H₁ smaller than a distance H₂ from the bottom surface 522 to the opposing apex of the triangular guide member 520 (illustrated in FIG. 33).

The carriage 526 also includes a rigid tube 529 connecting the hubs 527 a, 527 b. The tube 529 is bent upwardly at 529 a for the upper end of the bend 529 a to abut the apex of the triangular guide member 520 opposing the bottom surface 522. This abutment together with the pins 528 a, 528 b permits the carriage 526 to move slidably along the longitudinal axis of the guide member 520 but not move laterally or up and down within the guide member 520. Also, this bend represents a maximum radius of curvature of a contained fiber (as will be described) to avoid excessive bending of the fiber.

A conduit 530 is connected to the proximal hub 527 b in fluid flow communication with the tube 529. An optical fiber (only the distal tip 533 of which is shown in FIG. 33) may be passed through the conduit 530 into the tube 529 and out through a distal end of the tube 529 to project light through the slot 524 to atrial tissue at an angle preferably greater than 45 degrees and still more preferably greater than 60 degrees. The fiber has a smaller diameter than the interior diameter of the tube 529 and the conduit 530 for flushing fluid to be passed through the tube 529 and around the fiber and past the distal tip 533 to provide cooling and flushing as previously described.

FIGS. 34-36 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, a guide member 620 is shown formed of a highly flexible, bio-compatible material (such as extruded or molded silicone, or e-PTFE). A bore 621 is formed throughout the length of the guide member 620. The axis of bore 620 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide member. An arcuate bottom surface 622 of the guide member 620 has a slot 624 extending through the length of the guide member 620 and in communication with the bore 621.

Silicone is highly flexible and easily stretched. To resist stretching in the longitudinal direction, flexible metal cables 623 are molded within the guide member 620 extending through its length on opposite sides of the bore 621. To resisting twisting about the longitudinal axis while permitting bending, a split sleeve 625 of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is molded to the silicone of the guide member 620 within the bore 621 and with the split of the sleeve 625 aligned with the slot 624. PTFE is also more lubricious than silicone for advantages that will be apparent.

A conduit 630 (made, for example, of flexible, thin-walled stainless steel which is flexible but resists stretching) is slidably received within the bore 621. The annular portion of the bore 621 between the opposing surfaces of the PTFE liner 625 and the conduit 630 permits free longitudinal sliding of the conduit 630 within the bore 621. The PTFE liner 625 permits bending in all directions but resists twisting.

A curved tube 629 is secured to a distal end of the conduit 630. A distal end 629′ of the tube 629 resides within the slot 624. The spacing of the distal end 629′ from the sidewalls of the slot 624 may be narrowed to restrict rotation of the tube 629 and conduit 630 about the longitudinal axis of the guide member 620 while permitting free sliding movement.

An optical fiber 632 as described in the previous embodiments resides within the conduit 630 and moves longitudinally therewith. The diameter of the fiber 632 is smaller than the internal diameter of the conduit 630 to permit flushing and cooling fluid to flow through the conduit 630 as described in earlier embodiments. The conduit 630 and tube 629 act as a guide carriage to direct the fiber distal tip during operation.

A distal tip 633 of the fiber 632 terminates within tube 629 near distal end 629′. The tube 629 redirects the fiber 632 from an entrance axis parallel to the guide member's longitudinal axis to a discharge axis. The discharge axis at the fiber distal tip 633 is as described in earlier embodiments as is the spacing of the tip 633 from the guide member bottom wall 622.

FIGS. 37-39 illustrate an embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 34-36. Similar elements are similarly numbered with the addition of an apostrophe to distinguish embodiments. Except were needed to describe differences between the embodiments, such similar elements are not separately described. In FIG. 37, phantom lines are added to illustrate the tube 629 a is intended to reside in the guide member 620 a.

The embodiment of FIGS. 37-39 differ from that of FIGS. 34-36 by the addition of a guide tip 650 a to the distal end 629 a′ of the tube 629 a. The guide tip 650 a may be identical to that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/975,674 filed Oct. 28, 2004 (published May 5, 2005 as U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2005/0096643 A1 and incorporated herein by reference). The slot 624 a is sized so the side walls of the slot 624 a permit sliding movement of the guide tip 650 a in the slot 624 a while restricting rotation of the tube 629 a and conduit 629 about the longitudinal axis of the guide member 620.

Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 34-37 (in which elements project beneath the bottom wall 622), the guide tip 650 a projects beneath the bottom wall 622 a by a spacing D of about 1.0 to 2 mm in a preferred embodiment. The fiber 632 a is longer than the fiber 632 but the distance from the distal tip 633 a to the bottom lowest projection of the guide tip 650 a is preferably the same as distance D′ described with reference to FIG. 33A.

With the design of FIGS. 34-37, the guide tip 650 a slides atraumatically over the tissue surface while maintaining desired spacing of the fiber distal tip from target tissue.

It has been shown how the objects of the invention have been achieved in a preferred embodiment. It is intended that such modifications and equivalents which will appear to one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the teachings of the present invention shall be included within the scope of the claims. 

1. An apparatus for forming a lesion in tissue along a desired ablation path, said apparatus comprising: a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface, said guide member having interior surfaces and a longitudinal axis; said guide member including a track extending at least partially along a length of said guide member; and said apparatus further comprises a carriage slidably received with said track, said ablation member secured to said carriage for guiding movement therewith said guide carriage slidably received within said track and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis, an optical fiber within said guide carriage and secured thereto for movement therewith; said carriage retaining said fiber and receiving said fiber with an entrance axis to said longitudinal axis at an entrance angle substantially less than 45 degrees and bending said fiber to a distal tip with a discharge axis of said fiber at said distal tip to said longitudinal axis at a discharge angle of at least 45 degrees and aligned for discharge of laser energy, from a laser source, through said tissue opposing surface and with an alignment of said distal tip and said carriage remaining constant throughout movement of said carriage.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carriage includes surfaces opposing said fiber to define a fluid pathway for receiving a fluid to wash over said fiber at said distal tip.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide carriage has exterior surfaces cooperating with said interior surfaces of said guide member to permit movement of said carriage relative to said guide member to be substantially restricted to movement along said longitudinal axis.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carriage retains said fiber in alignment with a slot formed through said tissue-opposing surface.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide member is flexible about said longitudinal axis in at least one direction.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said entrance angle is approximately zero degrees.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge angle is greater than 60 degrees. 